Drawing-tablet.



A. K. CROSS.

DRAWING TABLET.

APPLICATION FILED MAY Is. I9I4.

WITNESSES.- INVENTOR.

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adapted to mark on glass. 'dent has 'made the drawing as correctly as ANSON K. CROSS, 0F BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

DRAWING-TABLET.

1o all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ANsoN citizen ofthe United States, andresident 'of Brookline, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drawing-Tablets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements upon the Patent No. 1,041,435 on a drawing tablet issued to me October 15, 1912 which broadly covered the combination with a 'transparent drawing tablet of any means by which a horizonal position of the tablet may be indicated.l

Practical use in the school room and the necessity for making the tablet in a cheap, durable and adjustable form have resulted in a very different construction from that shown in the patent of 1912, wherefore the :present application for patent is made to secure protection for the practical details essential to the use and manufacture of the f,

drawing tablet. My drawing tablet consists of a transparent tablet with an opaque tablet behind it and a spirit level to show when the tablet is in a horizontal position.` My drawing tablet is intended to be used instead of paper. It is held in the hand, and the student draws upon it with a special crayon When the stupossible by eye alone and lwithout measuring or testing appearances in any way, he draws out the opaque tablet from behind the glass, and holds the glass between his eye and the object in such a position that if correct it appears to cover the object. If it does not do this perfectly, when one line or part of the drawing does appear to cover the object, the errors are at once evident, and the student thus instructs himself and gains faster than when drawing 0n paper and depending upon a teacher for corrections, or upon the usual inaccurate Ways of testing free-hand sketches.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a drawing tablet embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a perspective view showing part of the transparent tablet broken away and the opaque tablet partly withdrawn from behind the transparent tablet.

Specification of Letters Patent. 1

K. Cross, a

Patented Oct. 22;, 1918.

Application led May 13, 1914. Serial No. 838,392.

Fig. 3 represents a section on line 7-#7 of Fig. 1.

p Fig. 4 represents a section on line 8-v-8 of Fig. 1, the opaque tablet not being represented.

Fig. 5 represents a top view, and

Fig. 6 a side view, both enlarged, of the metal plate which protects the spirit level.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The transparent tablet a may be of glass, Celluloid, or any other substance that may be marked upon, and through which the object to be drawn may be seen. A line wire gauze may be used, but I prefer to use window glass which I protect by a frame b. This may be of metal or papier mch, wood pulp, or other suitable material. I prefer to use wood, and to mortise and tenon and glue the four sides together.

The sheet pane or tablet of glass, being subject to breakage, must be readily replaceable, as well as being firmly held. This prevents the use of putty, and as glass varies in thickness it is necessary to provide means for clamping it to the frame which will hold panes varying in thickness from One-sixteenth of an inch t0 about one-eighth of an inch, forv the single thick, glass panes which I prefer to use vary as much asl this. I accomplish this result by making the rabbet in the short sides of the frame as deep as the thickest glass that is to be used, and making the rabbet in the long sides of the frame as deep as the thinnest glass that Ais to be used and providing two binding strips b adapted t0 t in the rear sides of the strips o and to hold the glass firmly in place within b by means of screws c. When a thin sheet of glass is used the strips b bend and thus bear firmly upon the glass whatever its thickness.

The spirit level d is inserted in a recess cut in the edge of the frame. I prefer to place one spirit level in one long edge and another in one short edge, though I have shown but one and use but one in the lower .about it.V 1

To enable the level to be read when the tablet is seen as in Fig. l, the.central part f ofteach wallabout the level, is cutaway .over

a distance -equalto about twice the diameter ofthe bubble. 'This allows the light`to.pass

through'the s piritlevel and make'thebubble 'visiblewhen the glass is seen from in front under a good light.

To make'the bubble visible whenthelight j is vdim and uncertain I'have found-it necessary Vtouse a coloredliquid whichby con- .'trast with the colorless air bubble within it 'Smonths asis attained under usualmethods enables the student'to readily use the level in any 'light v p The opaque-tablet z' may be of cardboard or Celluloid. I4It is iitted to slide in grooves iy cut in the inner edges of the binding strips "Q and may be wholly or partially withdrawn'either way as desired.

The directions vfor fusing the drawing tabfle't v'may behprinted on one of its surfaces 1'but'the white sideshould always be against the glass when the-drawing is being made.

The'lines 7c of Fig, 1 represent threadsor line Awires which may be passed through small holes 7c drilled in the edges of the pieces'b. "Ortheymay :representv lines drawn -or engraved on the back of thetransparent "tablet va), or lines drawn or printed on ythe 1front of the opaque-tablet z'.

The special lcrayon which. marks on glass 'being soft it is advisable to provide means for carrying it and for protecting it. I do this `by cutting away the central partV of the i L lower edge for a space sufficient to hold 45 l v'secured to I rtained within the edge of the frame.

the crayon, and ley-means of metal clips m 'the frame 7) the crayon may be re- This 'simple vand l inexpensive construction 'enables the art 'student vwho uses itartistlcallyto gamas much visual powerin a-few 'It' must*beunderstoodthat this tablet is not intended for tracingappearances, or-for enabling"the student to measure one by one :apparent angles, and lengt-bain order that thesejmechanical vmeasures may enablehim tofproduce anexhibition drawing. No measurements or tests 'will enable any student to producea work of art, or even `a'truthful "represeptation"ofthe apparent forms of obf iyects.` liph'lscan' 'only vbe ldone `by anfeye trained 'to '.see' correctly.

' @Mostinstruction'in drawing either allows 'thestlrdcl'itto make-a' free-hand sketch withoutV measuring or testing its truth in any .way7 or elsegpermits the-sstudent'to measure -and'testasmuch ashe pleases by use of his pencil-or ruler or other equally inaccurate The improvement in my method consists inyrequiring the student to make many rapid sketches by eye alone, without applying any testsiuntil the sketches have beencarriedaas lfar ,as possibleby'eye alone, and then applying the perfect test of withdrawing the opaque card and.. holding 4the drawing before the Aobject .to see l if its lines will Vcover: .those of the-.object whenithe.tablethasbeen lfleveled by use o'f the. spirit level. Thus while making .the d rfa-wing A`free-hand .the i most artistic way, the .drawing'fhas been Ypossible after it is completed, for the .student himself to test it instantly and perfectly, so ,that he understands his failures .and quickly ...gains such truth ofsi'ght-thatlhe can'd-raw artistically andcorre'ctly .at lirst touch.

.When this. happens hemaywant to-guse-.the

drawing tablet. as. a: finder in orderto .study the composition oflhissubjectln.itsrelation lto the size and proportions of lthedrawing v to be made, and fwithfthe exclusion of rex- 'The Lartist .often wishes tto .enlargesmall sketches. l.He ,does this lpy.c`lrawing.y small squares upon .the.:sketches rand {larger-ones upon the -s-ur'face .whereathe enlargementis desired. l

l have constructed the framer `of :the rtab- 'let with-reference .to .ithisluse lIngEg. .l

A Fifteen :equal squares .are. shown but. aother number .may the ...employed iT-hese squares maylbe on. the glasstand: thus ,used when! .the opaque tablet is withdrawn, for-measuring thev proportions. of .anythingrtheartist vmay wish Vto draw: on paper crizcanvas..

Thesquaresmay..befmade.bythreadsJc-secured in the holesjcinwhich case-ithetna-nsparent tabl et. may. .be .taken lout oftthe frame to'lightenit when..themframeiiszlarge.

fihe Vsquares .may be drawnfupon -.-the opaque tablet .so that. theymaye be1:ilaee ;ll in any desired relationto a,sketchf-.drawneupon theltransparent tablet. .y

It .is .thus :evident ...that Emy Iinvention -is equally '.to be desired. .by both 4stimulent y.and

.professionalartist Y It'. is plain [thatiny ideasmay.be Yembodied in many 'dilferent ways andimatenials-without departing: from .the .scope ,ofi .my invention.

-llhat .I Aclaim .z and .Adesiretosecure` rby `Letters -Patent is 'traneous objef'its.v `The.sliding.cardlenables vhim .to do this `-readily,for by sliding 4ita-n opening `.of any .desired proportion...maybe obtained throughwhichjto.-- study Lthe subject.

A1.Anparticleffor.usein..the,studyoftfreei hand drawing comprising a.frameyaftransparent .plateor tabletinountedsaid fra-me7 and:v spirit.. level..f1xed-. uponfsaidiframe position wherein light may pass through it to the eye of the user at the same time with the viewing of the tablet.

2. An article for use in the study of Freehand drawing comprising a frame, a transparent plate or tablet mounted in said frame, and a spirit level secured to one oi' the members of said frame, the said frame member having an aperture from front to rear vbeside the central part of the level.

3. An article for use in the study of freehand drawing comprising afr'ame, a transparent plate or tablet mounted in said frame, and a spirit level set into a recess inthe edge of one of thef members of said frame, the said member having apertures opening into the middle part of said recess from the front and rear of the frame for giving illumination'to the spirit level.

4. VAn article for use in the study of freehand drawing comprising a frame, atransparent plate or tablet mounted in said frame, a spirit level tube set into a recess in the edge of said frame, and a plate covering said recess and overlying said tube, the plate having an ear struck out midway between its ends and bent down-beside the tube and the frame being cutaway beside said ear.

5. An article for use in the study of freehand drawing comprising a frame, a transparent plate or tablet mounted in said frame, a spirit level tube set into a recess in the edge of said frame, and a plate covering said recess and overlying said tube, said plate having a light-admitting opening in its eentral part, and the frame having an opening from its front side into the mid portion of the recess exposing the side of the tube.

6. An article for use in the study of freehand drawing comprising a frame, a transparent plate or tablet mounted in said frame, a spirit level set into a recess in the edge of said frame, the frame having a front opening in its face extending into the mid portion of the recess, and a plate mounted on the frame to overlie said recess and having sighting projections extending beside the tube and exposed to view in said front opening.

7. A transparent tablet for use in the study of Jfree-hand drawing, a frame having means for holding said tablet, and an opaque tablet mounted on the frame behind the transparent tablet, said frame having guideways containing the opposite edges of said opaque tablet and being open at both ends, whereby said opaque tablet may be shifted in opposite directions.

8. A frame for use as a finder in the study of free-hand drawing, a spirit level mounted on the frame to showwhen the frame is level, and an opaque card mounted across the opening of the frame, said frame having holding means for said card with which the card is slidingly engaged, whereby the card may be moved so as to vary the `proportions of the opening through which the student studies the appearance of the subject to be drawn.

9. A frame for use as a nder in the study of free-hand drawing, means for mounting an opaque element upon said frame in an adjustable manner such that it maybe placed to cover any desired part of the space ineluded between the sides of the frame, a spirit level adapted to indicate when the frame is in horizontal position, and means for dividing the space between the sides of the frame into :a plurality of equal squares. n

l1. The combination with a transparent tablet adapted to receive markings on its surface and a frame bounding said tablet, of means adapted to cover the area within said frame and adjustably mounted for withdrawal to a greater or less extent whereby to make a sight opening in the frame similar to the proportions of the drawing to be made, and a means arranged to divide the area inclosed by said frame into equi-areal subdivisions.

12. A transparent tablet for use in the study of free-hand drawing having its area divided into equal equi -areal subdivisions and a spirit level connected with said tablet and adapted to indicate when the tablet is in a horizontal position.

13. A transparent tablet for use in the study of free-hand drawing and an opaque tablet adapted to be held behind the transparent tablet and to be withdrawn from this position and threads Placed behind the transparent tablet and disposed so as to divide the area of the tablet into squares that may be used to determine the apparent proportions of what is seen behind the squares.

14. A transparent tablet for use in the study of free-hand drawing, a frame recessed to receive this tablet having the opposite sides recessed unequally, one pair to serve as a gage for the thinnest tablet that may be used, the other pair to serve as a gage for the thickest tablet that may be used and means for rmly binding to the frame tablets of any thickness between the two extremes as shown by the opposite edges of the frame.

l5. A drawing tablet comprising a frame having longitudinal recesses in its members adapted and arranged to receive the edges of a plate, a transparent plate or tablet mounted on said frame with its edges in such re- -cesses,.= and adjustable binding .members securedto members of theframe so as to overlap opposite edges of the tablet..

16. A device for use in the study of free hand drawing comprising essentially a Vtransparent tablet adapted to hold by adhesion upon its surface particlesof material removed by vattrition trom a marking element traversing such surface, .and a tube containing liquid and a bubble connected Witli said tablet in a manner such that the bubble vin the-tube may beviewed by transmittedy light simultaneously with the view- .ngfof the tablet, rand the said liquid being of-sucli color astopro'duce a color contrast between the liquid and bubble when tlius viewed whereby the device may be used and leveledin-localities where the illumination ispoor. Y

:17. A device for use in the study offreehand drawing comprising a transparent tab- -letadapted to haveA lines drawn uponv its` surface, and a tanslucent spirit level mounted in -ay definite association with Said tablet in position to be- Seen at the same time that a drawing on the tablet is viewed 'for the purpose of leveling suc-h drawing. n

18. A device oruse in the study of freehand .drawing .Comprising a eframe, fel-transparent plate .or tablet. mounted .i11- said `f larile adapted to have lines-drawvnupon:itssurface, .and .a vspirit level. mounted on said frame ina position .enabling ittobeseen at n. the Same. timethat a drawing on the tablet is viewed,l and yin vvliichalsotheilevel .is enablerdto show when a certain part of ithe deviceis horizontal.

19. A device for the iise in `thetudy. .of freehand drawing comprising a .transparent tablet en which marks. may :bedrWJ-t a frame .carrying said tablet, and..a,transln cent spirit level mounted Onzsaid-frame in a position to showwhen a certainfpart. of the device is horizontal, the Ytrame [being so formed ,and tbeflevel positionednisoas to permit passage of .transmitted light through the level to the eye of, theft-18er Whentlie .tablet (is,- so lvlfield. that the* drawing. .thereon Y may. be viewed. Y

In testimony lwhereof Ihave ,aixedr-my signature, in presence :oftwo witnesses.

Ansonl KPoRoss.

Witnesses: Y

l i1?. Brumm,

ARTHUR-H. BRQWN.

3 Copies of thispatent.,may Ybeontained for =f1vc cents each, .by acldresing the "onggljssiggerlof "Patents,

WaShi-ngtqnin Q, 

